Film Study: Raiders IDL Nesta Jade Silvera

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Arizona State defensive lineman Nesta Jade Silvera with the 231st pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Silvera, who transferred to the Sun Devils after spending four years at the University of Miami (Fla.), posted 161 total tackles, 20.5 tackles for losses, three and a half sacks, and two forced fumbles over his five-year college career.

Silvera is a massive 6-2, 306-pound lineman who can stop the run and control gaps as a nose tackle. He was on Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham’s team at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in February.

Today, we’re going to take a look at one game from Silvera’s time at Arizona State and one game from his time at Miami to see what kind of player the Silver and Black are getting.

Last season against UCLA, Silvera showed off that gap control that made him such an appealing player to the Raiders. He even dropped back into coverage for one snap. Silvera knows how to disengage from his block and attack the ball carrier, which is what he will likely do a lot of with the Raiders.

SIlvera finished the game with two total tackles as the Sun Devils lost to the Bruins.

When he was at Miami playing against North Carolina State, Silvera won his match-ups with his strength and his long arms, and consistently got into the backfield. He lined up over center and in the A gap often.

Silvera helped the Hurricanes defense consistently get into the backfield against the Wolfpack. He also showed flashes of pass rush ability, although he likely won’t play too many passing downs.

There was a play where Silvera beat his blocker and tackled Wolfpack running back Zonovan Knight behind the line of scrimmage. He finished the game with two tackles.

Silvera’s role is well defined: he will be a 0-technique or 1-technique interior defensive lineman tasked with controlling gaps and penetrating into the backfield. With his long and strong arms, he should be able to shed blockers and tackle ball carriers around the line of scrimmage.

For a team that needs to control the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball, adding Nesta Jade Silvera will allow the Raiders to improve in that area.

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